“Glad to see everyone’s found my secret spot.” Felix snuck up behind us, shaking his head. “I’m going to have to put visiting hours on the door.” But he smiled as he gave Savannah a quick hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

Seeing how comfortable he was with her made me happier than I ever thought it would. I didn’t realize how much happiness could change a person. And knowing he had found peace in Savannah…Felix was an entirely different person.

“Shush,” Savannah scolded, but she smiled. “Give us the tour.”

Felix led us from bench to bench, in what was probably the longest time we had ever spent together without fighting. He explained which orchids were native to our area, and which he had transported–which in 1907 I didn’t even want to think of how expensive that would be. Savannah pointed out which colors were her favorite, and went around smelling each and every one, even the ones that made her grimace.

I had to admit. This was probably my favorite day the entire time I had been in the house.

Luther was explaining to Felix how different species of orchids got their names, when Savannah waved me over. “Theo! Come look, quickly!”

I hurried over, following her finger where she pointed at the soil of one of the larger orchids. There, in the specially created orchid soil Felix had been so proud of, was a large spider. “What the hell?” I didn’t need to get closer to see what it was. The spider was not small in the slightest, and I was sure it was eyeing me up to be its next meal.

She looked fascinated by it. “I thought you said animals and bugs don’t come near the house.”

“They don’t normally.” I shrugged, trying to ignore the long legs. “But that isn’t to say never. Remember our pet beetle?”

Savannah rolled her eyes. “How could I possibly forget the pet beetle?” She reached down as if to let the spider crawl on her hand. I swatted at her arm.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Picking up the spider?” She looked at me as if that was the dumbest question she had ever heard. “Or would you rather I just leave it in the plant to escape in the house and hide somewhere?”

“What the hell is going on over here?” Felix asked, coming to join us with Luther.

I pointed at Savannah, still bent over. “Your girlfriend found a spider and was going to pick it up.”

Luther smirked. “Technically she’s your girlfriend too, you know.”

“It’s just a fucking spider,” Savannah protested. “I was just going to take it somewhere safe.”

“Where, like, outside? Oh, wait…” No one laughed at my joke.

Felix frowned at me. “Are you afraid of spiders or something?”

“Me? Of tiny little spiders? Absolutely not.”